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Michael Cheika’s Argentina became the first team into the 2023 Rugby World Cup semifinals when they upset Wales 29-17 in Marseille.
A late intercept try to veteran Nicholas Sanchez capped a comeback win for the ages after Wales had led 10-0 in the first half. Wales looked dominant early on but Argentina shifted gears at the break and deserved their win.
A stoush between the players – with Wales’ Josh Adams lucky to escape with a penalty and not a card – just before the halftime interval appeared to rouse the Argentinians, whose fans brought an insane level of passion and noise throughout.
Tears flowed, shirts were waved in the air and the singing was joyous. Cheika himself joined in the celebrations, losing the plot as Sanchez roared away for his try.
That came just after a brilliant try-saving tackle from another replacement – Matías Moroni – who flew through the air to knock Louis Rees-Zammit into touch with Argentina just two points ahead at 19-17 with five minutes to play.
The game was a messy affair in the first half – not helped when the numbers of the Welsh team fell off their backs and landed like litter on the ground – and momentum shifted when South African referee Jaco Peyper was forced off with a calf injury. His replacement Karl Dickson began to blow the Argentinians off the park.
Nicolas Sanchez of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s second try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Wales and Argentina at Stade Velodrome on October 14, 2023 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
Wales No.10 Dan Biggar had already put on the first try moments before Peyper withdrew, and he added a penalty to give the northern hemisphere side a 10-0 lead.
Emiliano Boffelli kicked two penalties before halftime and then the next two after the break as Argentina took the lead for the first time.
With both teams under fatigue, Wales replacement scrum half Tomos Williams dummied his way over and Wales seized ascendency.
But Argentina broke through some desperate Wales defence to go ahead through Joel Sclavi’s try and Boffelli’s conversion.
The Moroni tackle will go down in legend in his homeland – as will Sanchez’s clincher. He bobbed up and robbed replacement Wales No.10 Sam Costelow blind, minutes after he replaced a broken Biggar.
Wales were upset when Argentina’s lock Guido Petti caught Wales centre Nick Tompkins with a shoulder to the head and Dickson’s explanation of the mitigation, and that Petti arrived at the breakdown legally, is sure to be analysed in depth in the Welsh wash up.
For all Cheika’s coaching box glee, he was typically laconic in his post-match comments.
“Pretty happy, I suppose,” he smiled. “These players are such good people too without too much emotional carry on.
“They worked really hard and that showed later in the game. They wanted to fight for that, they wanted to earn it, they knew they put in a lot of work.
“We were behind so it takes a lot of legwork. The whole 23 along with the 10 who didn’t play put in a huge effort.”
Asked if his team can go all the way, Cheika wasn’t biting.
“I don’t know if we’ll go into sweeping statements just yet. We’re just thrilled to be going to Pairs – we haven’t had a taste of it yet in this World Cup.
His team will play the winner of the Ireland vs New Zealand clash later Sunday.
“We’ll be heavily not favoured for that game, obviously, but we’ll be giving it our best shot.”
His skipper Julian Montoya, was immense as ever, and tried to explain how the team stayed calm when the decisions and scoreboard were running against the,.
“I think it comes from our personalty and the way that we train. We’ve been preparing for this a lot. Nothing has been too easy for us for the last couple of years. We trust each other. We are a very tight group,”Montoya said.
“I know you just see the 15 on the pitch or the 23 but there is a group of people behind us who are unbelievable. They work day and night. We are the fortunate guys who wear the jersey but this is a team effort.
“We know it is not going to be perfect; life is not perfect. It’s how you embrace the moment and fight for each other. That’s what rugby is about. Two more weeks with this team. I don’t want this to end ever. We need to be better, to be clinical in a lot of things. I know I can be more demanding but I am very proud of this team.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland bemoaned discipline after his side built a handy lead.
“A couple of soft penalties before half-time let them back in, which was disappointing. But I don’t’ want to take anything from Argentina, they deserve a lot of credit,” said Gatland.
“We possibly played a bit too much rugby around halfway, and perhaps we needed to squeeze them a bit more and force some territory. But we’ve come a long way with this group and there’s stuff to build on.”
Gatland meanwhile had a cheeky dig at Eddie Jones when he was asked about his future. Of course his old sparring partner Jones was repeatedly quizzed about his future and reports he has interviewed to coach Japan.
“This is like an Eddie Jones question, is it?! I’m not actually sure what’s in my contract. I think there’s a clause from the union. I’m not too sure what the actual wording is, I haven’t actually read it,” Gatland said.
Asked if he wanted to stay on he replied: “Yeah, absolutely, but if the union want to get rid of me, they are completely entitled to do that as well. That’s up to them.”
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Wales’ excellent captain Jac Morgan.
“We knew they were going to be a physical team, they always are,” said Morgan. “We just had to front up against that. But discipline and a couple of errors let us down. We let them into our half and they capitalised on that. We let them have more possession and they got points out of it.
“It is a devastating result.”
Argentina began their campaign with a miserable loss to England but looked a different outfit in this knockout clash.
“No question Michael Cheika and his coaching staff knew something had to change for Argentina,”said former England star Matt Dawson of the halftime adjustment.
“We have spoken about big games and big decisions and that Argentina side shifted considerably in that second-half. Wales did not know how to counter it.
“Watching Wales in the first-half was a total joy. I cannot believe the side who played England in the first game of this World Cup is in the semi-final – it has blown my mind.”